Hideki Matsui said Tuesday that he won't play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

The WBC will have to feature the world's best players who don't happen to be Yankees. "I know that it would be ideal to play for both club and country and I understand that (Japan manager) Sadaharu Oh and the fans were hoping I would do that," said Matsui in a statement. "But the reason I decided to go to the United States was to try and become a world champion with the Yankees and I fear that chasing two goals might get in the way of that dream." Dec. 27 - 3:20 am et

Source: Japan Today

 

ok we get it, the rest of the yankees can just drop out now...

this is so lame

 

let them play!

some of the best players in the world are on the yankees...this is lame

1st no cuba then this

Playing for your country should be more important than playing for a team that's employed you for a few seasons.

Playing for your country should be more important than playing for a team that's employed you for a few seasons.

 

 

No, the games you get payed to play are more important than meaningless exhibition games that no one really cares about and that you don't get payed for.

Playing for your country should be more important than playing for a team that's employed you for a few seasons.

 

 

No, the games you get payed to play are more important than meaningless exhibition games that no one really cares about and that you don't get payed for.

 

And spring training games aren't meaningless exhibition games for an established star like Matsui?

I think it is his life and his choice. I am sure he might regret it in the future but still, it is his choice to make here and I am sure the NYY dont mind one bit.

I think it is his life and his choice. I am sure he might regret it in the future but still, it is his choice to make here and I am sure the NYY dont mind one bit.

 

I'm not sure it is his choice. They didn't want Posada to participate, so maybe they are indirectly involved with these decisions.

Playing for your country should be more important than playing for a team that's employed you for a few seasons.

No, the games you get payed to play are more important than meaningless exhibition games that no one really cares about and that you don't get paid for.So instead of playing in "exhibition games" against the best players from fifteen other nations, he should be suiting up against such fine opponents as the B squads of the Tigers and the Phillies. Want to tell anyone playing in soccer's World Cup that they're playing for an exhibition? Because it's the same premise.

 

I don't see why players from other teams choose to be loyal to country, but Yankee players choose to loyal to employer. Can you name anywhere this happens except for the United States? Does Manu Ginobli say "I'm not going to represent Argentina, the Spurs are more important," or does Dirk Nowitzki (sp) side with the Mavericks over his homeland? See any Canadiens or Russians staying with their NHL team instead of playing during the season for their country in the Olympics? But US players are too good to play for their basketball team, their baseball teams, or any other sport that has national competition? And so are the players for "America's team?"

 

The World Baseball Classic can only take off in its quest to become the World Cup if people stop holding it down by the ankles with stupid decisions like this. The American government, instead of blocking off Cuba from competition, should just bar it from collecting any money. Players shouldn't be sitting out because their employer needs them. And teams should not be barring their players from representing their countries. Would the Yankees try to step in the way of Japan calling Hideki Matsui to join the army? It seems like its way off base, but it's the same ballpark. Both times a person is asked to adorn himself with the country's colors and fight (whether that be figuratively or literally) for that country's supremacy against its opponent. Matsui not putting on Japan's baseball uniform is similar to him not putting on Japan's army uniform.

I love how the people who don't care about this keep saying "no one cares" about this tournament when they're clearly wrong.

Playing for your country should be more important than playing for a team that's employed you for a few seasons.

No, the games you get payed to play are more important than meaningless exhibition games that no one really cares about and that you don't get paid for.So instead of playing in "exhibition games" against the best players from fifteen other nations, he should be suiting up against such fine opponents as the B squads of the Tigers and the Phillies. Want to tell anyone playing in soccer's World Cup that they're playing for an exhibition? Because it's the same premise.

 

I don't see why players from other teams choose to be loyal to country, but Yankee players choose to loyal to employer. Can you name anywhere this happens except for the United States? Does Manu Ginobli say "I'm not going to represent Argentina, the Spurs are more important," or does Dirk Nowitzki (sp) side with the Mavericks over his homeland? See any Canadiens or Russians staying with their NHL team instead of playing during the season for their country in the Olympics? But US players are too good to play for their basketball team, their baseball teams, or any other sport that has national competition? And so are the players for "America's team?"

 

The World Baseball Classic can only take off in its quest to become the World Cup if people stop holding it down by the ankles with stupid decisions like this. The American government, instead of blocking off Cuba from competition, should just bar it from collecting any money. Players shouldn't be sitting out because their employer needs them. And teams should not be barring their players from representing their countries. Would the Yankees try to step in the way of Japan calling Hideki Matsui to join the army? It seems like its way off base, but it's the same ballpark. Both times a person is asked to adorn himself with the country's colors and fight (whether that be figuratively or literally) for that country's supremacy against its opponent. Matsui not putting on Japan's baseball uniform is similar to him not putting on Japan's army uniform.

 

 

Jaunky, you make a lot of well written and thought out posts on this site. Keep them up. :thumbup

let's see...first Steinbrenner convinces Posada, who would have represented the Puerto Rican team, to sit out the WBC...then, A Rod, who would have likely played for the Dominican team winds up not playing in the WBC...now Matsui announces he won't be representing Japan...so now the only notable yankees that will be competing in the WBC happen to playing for the US team (Jeter and Damon)

gotta give props to Steinbrenner for doing everything in his power to help the US team in the WBC